and from neglecting recommended acts to the Truth’s protective jealousy over them. This is a matter of terminology, but the meaning is sound and accords with the Book and the Sunnah.

As for his statement, “The servant’s protective jealousy for the Truth consists in devoting none of his states or breaths to anything other than the Truth,” this is protective jealousy over himself, lest any of his deeds be devoted to anyone other than Allah.

This, too, is the state of those foremost in good deeds, who perform obligatory and voluntary acts of worship and avoid forbidden and disliked things. Allah Most High says:

“Among them are those who wrong themselves, those who take a moderate course, and those who are foremost in good deeds.”
Surah Fātir, 32

Undoubtedly, this includes his protective jealousy when Allah’s prohibitions are violated. If he does not then feel protective jealousy for Allah’s sake, despite Allah’s command to do so, the deed that occupied him to the neglect of this duty was not for Allah, but for Satan.

Likewise, his statement, “One should not say, ‘I am jealous over Allah,’ but rather, ‘I am jealous for Allah’s sake,’” is sound and good. As he said, “Jealousy over Allah is ignorance.” As we have already explained, it is envy and arrogance that they call jealousy: one of them wishes that no one else should share with him in